Some legal advice needed...

Nothing too bad, more annoying...
a flatmate avoided paying rent for the last two month and today she fled leaving her room just empty and dirty plus a "kind" note saying I'd rather stick the money up my arse than handing it to you...
I can guess the only way to (legally) get the money back (ut's about a grand...) is to get to the small claim court...

I'm just wondering:
how effective it can be?

how much time will I have to spend after the claim?

of course I don't have her new address but know where she works and know a family address..would the work address be enough for the claim or it needs to be a home address?

I really hate this situation...

any help would be much appreciated..

I don't know about the legal side with address to serve a claim to if it were me I would ...

Write everything down, with dates of what happened,
Photocopy the note as well and keep the original
Send her family a letter politely explaining what has happened and saying that you will take legal action.
Enclose a copy of her note and a time line of events.
State if you are not paid you will take legal access.
Give a date by which if you do not hear anything you will proceed with the action.
If nothing happens file the claim.
If you hear from them by the given date tell them a date by which you expect to be paid by or you will proceed with the claim.
After any phone conversations write down what was said. Date them e.t.c
If nothing happens file the claim.
Don't be emotionally manipulated.

Basically make sure you know what happened / happens better than she does so in the even that it goes to court you seem competent and she seems usless.

Yes I have had people owe me money, but it did not go to court in the end. :)

Her name's not Delphina is it?

I can lend you the dogs for a few days? They're guaranteed to go for the face first.

Seriously though, I'd go down her work first and kick off a right stink in front of all her work colleagues - atleast ask her what her problem is and why she fucked off?

Hah... no the name is not Delphina...
@hippy: dibs on the dogs, wold you split?

her problem...well... just happy abuse of drugs... so it's not a big deal to know better than her what is going on :P

thanks a lot for the advice...the letter to the family sounds good. the dogs sounds even better... but i'll still give the letter a try first..

If you know where she works, you can send it there, too. I'd send it recorded.

Tantamount to stalking but if you know where she works then its only a matter of following her to find out where she lives.

I think you'll find that a claim without a home address is nigh impossible.

However, if you are feeling vindictive and you think it may amount to something, let her employers know about her recreational drug use. Often they take a dim view of such things.

the stalking idea is nice... maybe adding Hippy's dogs...

anyway the will to be vindictive is pretty strong...but the employer would not care much..it's a professional use more than recreational..she snorts half of colombia while working in a pub..can figure out why she does not have money to pay rent...
I was just hoping that the work address would be enough for the claim..

A home address will be much better.

Professional use? Does her job description require her to be a colossal ass hat?

Hah... no the name is not Delphina...

Hmmm ... Tuna?

shit marco you didn't mention that. good thing she's not gonna be your new flat mate

she snorts half of colombia while working in a pub..can figure out why she does not have money to pay rent....

that explain why she rather had the money up her arse, since cocaine come from arses.

I can guess the only way to (legally) get the money back (ut's about a grand...) is to get to the small claim court...

Small claims court is the way to go, you can do it online in under 5 minutes.

I'm just wondering:
how effective it can be?

Effective. I would tell her what you are going to do first, give her a few days to respond (no more)- it will cost you some money to lodge the claim, which you get back (it is added to the money she has to pay).

how much time will I have to spend after the claim?

This question is much too vague for my suspiciously aspergic brain.

of course I don't have her new address but know where she works and know a family address..would the work address be enough for the claim or it needs to be a home address?

Pretty sure the work address should be good enough, you will need an address for the claim itself and - (if she looses and does not pay - or does not contest and does not pay) - for the bailiffs if you then take out a warrant

It's all very straightforward.

• listen to what Tommy said, write everything down, you probably won't need it, but best to cover yourself.